Discreet Dancer off the Derby trail says trainer Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher trained, Discreet Dancer, is off the Kentucky Derby trail, and the decision on the issue was finally taken after his tired third place finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on 26 February, 2012, to winner, Union Rags, and it’s time
to forget about Discreet Dancer, because if a 3-year-old is given time off at this time of the year, than it’s not good news and he will not be seen in action for a while now.
The Florida bred son of Discreet Cat, out of mare West Side Dancer by Gone West, will be out of commission for a while, and if this year Kentucky Derby is out of the equation for Discreet Dancer than he will probably dwell into 3-year-old sprints, which
ultimately would lead to Breeders’ Cup Sprint or Mile at the end of the season.
With the 3-year-old sprint division at his mercy, maybe taking him off the Kentucky Derby trail was a wise thing to do, and Todd Pletcher breaking him down is not the issue here. The colt wasn’t just up to the mark when it came to Kentucky Derby level contenders,
and the decision to take him off should be applauded.
Discreet Dancer turned in his recent work on 19 March, 2012, at Palm Meadows Training Center on dirt, where he turned in 5 furlongs 1 minute and 1.01 seconds, and his work was ranked as the second best out of 27 at the distance.
Originally the plan for Discreet Dancer was to run in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at about 1 1/8 miles at Fair Grounds Race Course at about 1 1/8 miles, and then off to the Kentucky Derby.
“After discussing the situation with Mrs. Robsham, we decided to take him off the Triple Crown trail and just send him up to Ocala and give him a little holiday,” Pletcher said.
Prior to the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, Discreet Dancer won the 1 mile long allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park, and he broke his maiden at first asking over at five and a half furlongs, which made his undefeated before his slow third place
finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Tags: